‘Because as goes Texas…’

Moments after being sworn into office, newly inaugurated Gov. Greg Abbott challenged the crowd gathered outside the capitol in Austin to be leaders not only in this nation, but in the world.

“Because as goes Texas, so goes America, and as goes America, so goes the world,” he said.

Texas has indeed been an economic powerhouse in recent years, leading the nation in job creation and boasting the 12th largest economy in the world.

But the state has many hurdles to overcome as well, including how to fund its burgeoning transportation and infrastructure needs, manage the state’s ever-shrinking water supply, care for millions of Texans lacking health insurance coverage and ensure that all children in the Lone Star State receive a quality education that prepares them to enter the workforce.

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Then there’s the issue of securing the southern border, a hot-button during Abbott’s campaign and that of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

With a conservative Legislature alongside them, Abbott and Patrick should be able to complete much of their respective agendas, but there are few easy solutions to the challenges they face, particularly if bipartisanship is not part of the program.

It would be something if Texas could lead the nation when it comes to political compromise.